Electric pickle jar game



United States Patent [72] Inventor Jeffrey D. Breslow Evanston, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 714,819 [22] Filed March 21, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 15, 1970 [73] Assignee Marvin Glass & Associates Chicago, 111.

a part interest [541 ELECTRIC PICKLE JAR GAME 2 Ciaims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl.. 273/1 [51] Int. Cl A631 9/06 [50] Field oi'Search 273/1 1(E) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,460,l46 l/l949 Prentice 273/](E) FOREIGN PATENTS 318,627 1918 Germany Primary E.raminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant E.t'aminerPaul E. Shapiro AltorneyJames F. Coffee ABSTRACT: An electrical game of skill comprising a jar having a removable metal lid with an opening, and the jar is fixed to a base including a battery-operated buzzer or alarm. The jar is filled with simulated pickles of spongy material, having spaced-apart holes therein, and there is provided a metal fork to be used in removing the pickles from the jar and having tines adapted to be inserted in the holes in the pickles. The

metal fork and lid are electrically connected with the buzzer in a manner such that when the fork touches the metal lid the circuit is closed to operate the buzzer.

1 ELECTRIC PICKLE mt ems BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to games of skill involving an alarm system which is set off when'aplayer incorrectly positions a tool or playing piece used-in the game. Such a game is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,846, issued Aug. l,

l967 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF rus' 'nakwmo FIG. I is a perspective view of the game apparatus and scoring device;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view. of the jar portion of the game; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3.-3 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, it is seenthat the game apparatus comprises 'a transparent jar llftited to a base l2 and adapted to receive any one of a plurality of screw-top metal lids l4, l6 and 18, each lid having an openingtlterethrough of a different size. A plurality of simulated pickles 20 are provided for placement in the jar, and each player in turn uses a metal fork 22 in an attempt to remove one or more of the pickles from the jar. The base 12 of the apparatus supports a battery powered alarm of buzzer system 24, which is electrically connected with the metal lid onthe jar and with the metal fork, so that when the fork contacts the lid it closes the circuit to actuate the buzzer. There is also preferably provided a scoring device, such as the peg board26 and pegs 28, to enable each player to record his score when he successfully removes one of the pickles from jar 10,-. 4

More particularly referring to FIGS. 2 and 3. the base 12 is generally square and preferably formed of a nonconductive material such as plastic. The jar l is' acylinder formed of a transparent plastic material and including a somewhat reduced size neck 30 provided with a screwthread to selectively receive one of the similarly threaded metal caps l4. l6, 18. The open lower end of the jar is fixed to the upper wall 32 of the base to complete the enclosure.' Underlying the wall 32 and supported thereon is a box 34 for removably receiving a pair of batteries 36. The inner sidewalls of the box have fixed thereto apair of metal contact elements 38 and 40, and the batteries are positioned between the contacts and removably held in place by a pivotally mounted bar 42 spanning the lower edges of the box. 7

The battery contact strip 38 includes a terminal portion 44 to which is attached an electrical conductor or wire 46 leading outwardly of base 12 and connected with the metal fork, 22. The other contact strip 40 also includes a terminal portion 46 to which is attached-a wire 48 leading to a'conn'ection with the buzzer device 24 including an electromagnet 50 and a spring buzzer arm 52. The buzzer 24 is of conventional structure and electromagnet 50 is electrically connected with the jar lid [4 by a conductor in the form of a narrow, flat metal strip 54 which extends upwardly along the outside of the jar 10. It is seen, therefore, that when metal fork 22 contacts the metal lid on top of jar 10 the buzzer circuit is closed'to operate the buzzer and produce audible sounds as arm 52 repeatedly strikes against the lower end of the (201150. Of course, the

separation of fork 22 from the lid will open the circuit and the sound of the buzzer will stop.

The amusing aspects of the game are enhanced by providing pickles 20 which are of soft, spongy material, such as a foam plastic or rubber, and which tend to compress or squeeze together when jabbed with fork 22. In this respect, the pickles 20 are preferably formed with holes 56, and the fork 22 has tines 58 which can penetrate into oneortwo of the holes and assist the player in his attempt to remove a'pi ckle from the jar.

Generally, the disclosed apparatus is used to play a game of skill in which each player in turn attempts 'to remove a pickle from the jar. One of the jar lids l4, 16 or l8'may be selected for use in advance, or the game may be played by successively using a lid with 'a smaller opening. The players may receive scores only for successfully removing a pickle without setting off the buzzer or, preferably, a player maycontinue to try to get a pickle after the buzzer is sounded and receive a lesser score depending upon the number of times the buzzer sounds.

Although shown and described with respect to particular apparatus and form of play, it will be apparent that modifications might be made without departing from the principles of the invention. r

I claim: 1

1. Game apparatus comprising a container. a plurality of simulated pickles in said container which are of foam plastic and are provided with spaced-apart holes,-a metal top for said container having an opening therein affording access to said articles, a metal fork to be used in removing said articles from the container, said fork having a plurality-of tine portions adapted to fit within the holes in said pickles, and an electrical alarm system connected said said fork and with said metal top so that contact between said fork and top actuates the alarm.

2. Game apparatus as set forth in claim I, wherein said container comprises a simulated pickle jar mounted on a base, said base includes said alarm system comprising a battery operated buzzer, and including a plurality of said metal tops each having an opening of differentisi z'e and adapted to be removably positioned on the top of said jar. 

